‘Roaring Currents’ sets box office record

The period blockbuster “Roaring Currents” drew a record number of viewers in just two days, surpassing the number of viewers who saw “Avatar” in the first week of its release.

According to the Korean Film Council, the movie drew more than 1.4 million viewers in the first two days of its debut, the fastest record so far this year. The movie attracted 700,866 viewers on Thursday, making it the most-watched film on a single weekday in Korean cinema history. It also had a record opening with 680,000 viewers on July 30.

A scene from “Roaring Currents.” (CJ Entertainment)

It drew a landmark number of viewers faster than another period action flick, “Kundo: Age of the Rampant,” which surpassed 1 million viewers four days after its July 23 release.

“Roaring Currents” had the top earnings in the Korean box office, followed by the sequel of “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Kundo,” as of Aug. 1.

The film tells the story of the historical Battle of Myeongryang during the Japanese invasion of Korea (1592-1598), in which Adm. Yi strategicaly destroyed 133 Japanese warships with only 12 ships under his command. The battle is regarded as one of Yi’s greatest victories.

It stars acclaimed actor Choi Min-sik (“I Saw the Devil”), who plays the respected admiral. Other actors in the film also received praise, including Ryu Seung-ryong (“Miracle in Cell No. 7,” “All About My Wife), who plays the Japanese admiral who fights against Yi.